House Meles ([ hous MEH-leez ] | / haʊs ˈmɛ liz /)
Words By Claw or Paw
Meles Plate by Moonflower
Structure
House Meles is a constitutional monarchy, headed by the "Meles Trifecta". First of whom is our Crown Leader, the Great Badger or our Regent (if the Great Badger is unable or unavailable to handle the duty of leadership). Below the Crown are the two Seneschals, who advise the Great Badger or Regent and help carry and lessen the burden of the Crown. They act as the Paw of the Great Badger.
Even though the Meles Protectorate is a monarchy, we value the voice of all Melesians and take issues brought to the Trifecta and its supporting boards seriously. We hold the Allthing meeting multiple times a year in various locations, where the Protectorate population can voice their opinions and bring issues before the Crown. Recent advancements in Literomantic technology have allowed for all to join in digitally if they are unable to attend in person.
As per the constitution, lay groups, called boards, specific to the needs—rights, transportation, education, etc.—handle most of the populace's concerns. Melesians are called to serve on boards every 5 years for a 3 month term.
The Trifecta may do as they need. Their powers include the power to go to war, levy taxes, etc. It is the duty of the Trifecta to call an emergency Allthing should a tyrant take the Throne or become Seneschal. Only in the Allthing could a tyrant be stripped of authority and literomantic power.
Rumors of a terrifying Great Badger in the distant past have prompted giving this emergency power to the Allthing and giving the Trifecta members the burden of calling the meeting. This is why there are always three. Two that have an opportunity to call for the Allthing and keep the balance of power.
So far, the Allthing call for impeachment has not been required. But in the Fourth Word War, when Prince Galakrond (before he was Regent) fell to the horde and Seneschal Shyredfox was bedazzled by the Nite Queen AttorraRu, having the third member of the Trifecta was invaluable. Seneschal Purpleheart was able to keep stability for the Meles evacuation.
Exactly how the literomantic power would be removed is unspecified. The Meles Librarians (that are not members of the Trifecta) are the only ones who would be able to retrieve a tome of such powerful information, if it still exists. Additionally, the Librarians fear such an action, even if necessary, could divide the Protectorate forever. Perhaps this is the reason the Library is so heavily warded.
The Great Badger by SRF + MJ
Allthing meeting being broadcast across the protectorate by SRF + MJ
Meles Librarian by SRF + MJ
Culture
Melesians tend to be peaceful, keeping to ourselves as we go about day-to-day life. Though, we have a lighthearted side that emerges as you get to know us. Our humor is often self depricating, but that doesn't mean we look down on ourselves. We have fierce pride and our humbling humor is a balance to that side.
We can be intensely stubborn and dig ourselves into some pretty deep holes (plot or otherwise). But when we see another in trouble, we're happy to lend a hand or dig another space in the Den for any who need a place to stay.
A family of badgers on a walk near the Windy Willows by SRF+MJ
Always on Guard
Despite the desire to live quietly, war has come to our protectorate too many times to be naive or lax about the need for security. The Undead Hordes have targeted our lands, thinking we would just bow down and welcome their reign of terror. Our numbers may be few, but House Meles has a powerful army full of brave and steadfast badgers and badger-kith. Through strengthening our bonds with our allies and working together, Meles will always meet the undead head on. We don't back down. We are watchful and constantly update our state-of-the-art security measures and wards. Regent Prince Galakrond heads the ward mages and checks the wards often. Every Melesian, civilian or military, is trained what to do when scouts spot zombies. Captain Purpleheart heads the royal guard, the Brocktrees, and ensures daily training is kept up to date to match the latest information on the Hordes.Young Badgers whispering how they want to be like the sentry by SRF + MJ
Creature Companions
Local creatures may adopt a Melesian. The word "pet" doesn't quite fit, because the animal companion picks the Melesian rather than the other way around. We call these special creatures dyr kin, since they become an equal member of the Melesian's family. The bond allows the dyr kin to communicate with its meles kin. Baby badger scouts often bond like this with a Brocktree of their choice. Notable dyr kin examples include Purpleheart's cat companion—Stormy the mini Tiger, Regent Prince Galakrond's raven—Boodles, and Shyredfox's baby badger—Clawdia.History
Conversion to a Minor House
In March 2024, the Great House of Meles requested permission to revert to a Minor House at the Great Meeting of Houses. Due to Meles being the first protectorate attacked by the Zombie Undead Hordes several wars in a row which decimated their population, it was not possible for Meles to manage such a large territory. The request was granted. In the Meles Ailurus Treaty of 2024, Meles agreed to cede their southern territory and coast to Ailurus. In return, Meles gained the lucrative northwest coast (the entirety of the Ailurus lands at that point).Badger King and Consort MIA
The whereabouts of The Great Badger and his Bardger Consort Realm of Music are unknown. They were last seen around The Fourth Word War and we are sad to report they are missing in action.Game of Tomes 2023
House Meles participated in Game of Tomes 2023. It was the first house to fall to the Undead Horde.2023 War Details
Week 1 Casualties
Week 3 Casualties
Tourney of Tales July 2023
House Meles was the victor of the Tourney of Tales of July 2023. We are grateful to House Ailurus for their help. Without them it wouldn't have been possible.Tourney of Tales April 2023
House Meles participated in the Tourney of Tales April 2023.Game of Tomes 2022
by SRF + Hero Forge
(L to R) RedAngel, CathWolfie, WritingSurreal, BladeOfGlory6, Mercenary Erin Righ (who calls Meles home), Brocktree First Lieutenant ZoeTheWriter, Brocktree First Lieutenant Stormy, Prince Xantos, Prince Batman, Princess Missi, Prince General Galakrond, The Great Badger—King Darth Nikolas, Royal Consort Realm, Princess Jellybean, Princess Salem, Princess Monkey, Brocktree Captain Purpleheart, Brocktree Chief Master Sergeant Shyredfox, Titchasaurus, WordiGirl, Eoiselle, Stormie
House Meles participated in Game of Tomes 2022. It was the first house to fall to the The Undead Horde 2022.2022 War Details
The Fall (Round 1)
Despite having a welcome influx of new Badgers, House Meles was the first house to fall on Nov 6, 2022 with 162,804 words. Meles was just barely behind House Chiroptera, who with the advantage of an alliance with House Ailurus escaped the first attack of the The Undead Horde.Tome Stolen
Shocking the entire house, Lord Galakrond stole the The Iron Tome from House Lapin in an attempt to solve the issues from The Company kidnapping and taking over his mind. ECC Books, having recently turned into The Nite Monarch ICC Dead People, fought with General Galakrond over the tome. General Galakrond died and turned into The Nite Prince GalaWight. They are currently both leading the Undead Horde.Fallen Badgers (Round 1)
Badgers that bravely fought to protect our den and fell to the horde that day were:The King's Speech
The Great Badger's Speech to the House Members (Non RP)Meles, While it is sad to see our house fall today, I want all of you to know that I could not be more proud of what we accomplished. Meles started this war with only a few members and has probably doubled in size since we started. Each word you wrote is one that Meles would have never had without you! It warms my heart to know that we were able to knock out more than THREE full NaNo's together and it is an honor to fight the Undead at the side of such brave, talented Tome Knights. We may have fallen in 2022, but the House of Badgers is growing fast and I'm excited to see where the next year will take us. I'm thinking "Badgers 2023" has a nice ring to it...
Refuge with House Lapin
The Great Badger and The Royal Family fled to the The Warren where they were, despite the circumstances of war, warmly welcomed by the Chief Rabbit Sable Aradia. Our king encouraged surviving Badgers to join them under the safety of the banner of House Lapin.
It was here, House Lapin and House Meles formed the Woodland Family Alliance. Eventually House Ailurus joined, and the alliance added the red panda and additional guard animals to the banner.
The Fall of Lapin (Round 3)
When House Lapin fell on November 17, 2022, House Meles took refuge with House Sauropoda. Good King RPGDinosaurBob kindly welcomed the badgers and made room for surviving members.Fallen Badgers (Round 4)
Members that bravely fought and fell to the horde that day:Tourney of Tales July 2022
House Meles participated in the Tourney of Tales July 2022.Tourney of Tales April 2022
House Meles participated in the Tourney of Tales April 2022.Game of Tomes 2021
House Meles participated in the Game of Tomes 2021 and was the third house to fall to the the Undead Horde 2021.Tourney of Tales July 2021
House Meles participated in the Tourney of Tales of July 2021.Tourney of Tales April 2021
House Meles was the victor of the Tourney of Tales of April 2021.Game of Tomes 2020
House Meles participated in Game of Tomes 2020. It was the second House to fall to the Undead Horde, with its leader being an unfortunate victim of zombification. The members of House Meles who fell to the Horde were cured of their zombification when House Mollusca claimed the Iron Tome.Technological Level
Before the Word Wars, House Meles may have been a tad behind some of the other Protectorates. But through hard work and sheer stubbornness we are bridging that gap and meeting our own needs and those of the other Protectorates. Literomantic universities sprang up quickly thanks to the vast Meles Library archives.
We use our skills to take mundane items and processes and turn them into things of the highest caliber. If an item or piece of technology says "Made in the Meles Protectorate", you know it's quality and will last for years to come.
Agriculture & Industry
The Meles Protectorate offers a vast array of agriculture and industry. Below is just a sampling.
Lumber, mining, and excavating are major industries. Forests and landscapes are replanted to avoid deforestation or stripping the land. A mining survey was taken after The Third Word War to see if it would be profitable to revive the Tomecake Gold Mine in the Black Hills.
Farming and ranching are common in the open ranges and prairies, where grains, soy, corn, millet, sunflowers, vegetables of all kinds, orchards of apples, pears, cherries, and grapes, cattle, hogs, chicken, turkey, bison, and sheep are raised. Honey farms are numerous. The coasts and rivers are used to raise and harvest freshwater fish and seafood.
Non sapient wild herds and flocks may be hunted (after applying for a license) and include deer, elk, antelope, ducks, geese, pheasant, grouse, wild turkey, trout, walleye pike, salmon, and more.
Wind farms are scattered throughout the plains and the coastal deserts. They supply electricity to their areas and parts of the Lapin Protectorate (namely California).
In the larger cities, our industry is strong. All types of machines and items are made. Recently, we've added Literomancy to our production after ShyRedFox first used her own energy to power a 3D printer for Literomantic keyboards to speed the wording efforts for The Fourth Word War. The personal energy expended to power such Literomantic production is costly, and new mages are being trained.
Weaponry and armor are produced in undisclosed locations.
Our major Literomantic Colleges are based in Minneapolis, Seattle, Portland, and Missoula. The most prominent STEM colleges are located in Billings, Minneapolis, Rapid City, and Madison.
See also Meles Protectorate under Benefits.
Badger driving mining truck by SRF + MJ
Students at Missoula Literomantic University by SRF + MJ
Trade & Transport
The Protectorate has sea shipping from the West Coast and Great Lakes, giving us access to both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Overland rail and interstates give us land access. Though it can be difficult to get through the passes in the Rockies during winter.
Thus, Meles is currently constructing a literomantic powered mag lev train system throughout the protectorate and connecting our neighbors through the Rocky Mountain corridor. Lapin has offered engineers and assistance. Meles plans to negotiate with House Ailurus to see if MagiTech may be used and with House Sauropoda to see if any of the Rave Train technology might also be incorporated.
Tourism is mostly based in the larger cities and coasts for the culture opportunities and gorgeous forests. Though the plains bring in hunters from other protectorates, too.
See also Meles Protectorate under the Geography section and Meles Ailurus Treaty of 2024 Territory Changes section.
Meles Mag Lev Train (in production) by SRF + MJ
Education
Melesians learn through doing. We encourage our population to expand their minds in every subject they can, whether that be higher education or job experience. We respect hard work as much as a degree. Many of our people attend college and trade schools. But there is nothing like hard work and digging to remind us we are all equal.
Diplomatic Relations
This article is a work in progress, and may be subject to changes.
This article is part of a series related to streaming the Game of Tomes. For more information, see Streaming Game of Tomes.
Badger on!
Badger through!
We can be cute. We can be fierce!
Join House Meles Today!
by Shyredfox
House Meles by Darth Nikolas
Founding Date
1 November 2020
Type
Geopolitical, Great house
Capital
Demonym
Badger(s), Melesians
Leader
Leader Title
Family Leader
Head of State
Government System
Monarchy, Constitutional
Gazetteer
Meles territory consists of most of the upper Midwest and northwest of the former United States. (The pre Word War states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the up of Michigan.)
Currency
The Woodlander Talon is the currency of the Meles Protectorate. Meles Malrani are still in circulation and accepted, but they are no longer being produced. Some Melesians consider the Malrani to be collectors' items.
Major Exports
A sampling of our major exports includes Literomantic Keyboards, foodstuffs, seafood, wine, machinery (including mining and excavation equipment), weaponry and armor (to our close allies), paper products, wool, and lumber.
Major Imports
The protectorate is fairly self-sustained, but we import a few things such as semiconductors, tropical treats, and silk and cotton.
Location
Related Traditions
Related Ranks & Titles
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
Related Species
Related Ethnicities
Related Plots
House Meles by Dani Adventures
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